by Robert Steadman

Created on: February 21, 2009

1997 baseball season would be the season to remember in all aspects. Mark Mcguire would be the first player to hit 50 homeruns in two straight seasons since Babe Ruth did it in 1927 and 1928. Tony Gwynn wins his eighth batting title, by hitting a .372 batting average. The first player to do that since Rodgers Hornsby, Hornsby it for 6 straight season from 1920 upto 1925. Commissioner Bud Selig would retire Jackie Robinsons number #42 for all of the Major League. Sammy Sosa would hit a inside the park homerun.

Roger Clemens would win his 9th straight win being at 9-0 his best start since 1986 14-0. Andres Galarraga would hit his third longest homerun at Coors Field at 469 foot two-run homer. In Maimi, Galarraga would blast a 529 foot homerun. That would be the longest at Pro-Player Stadium. Roger Clemens would win tenth game being at 10-0 beating the Toranto Blue Jays 13-3. The American League would beat the National League in the All-Star game 3-1. Sandy Alamor would hit a two-run homerun, and was named the MVP in the All-Star game. Sandy would be the first person to hit a homerun on his home field, since Hank Aaron did it at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta in 1972.

16 former players died that year. The play-off teams in that year were the; Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Baltimore Oriolers, Seattle Mariners. For the National League play-offs were the; Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, San Fransico Giants, Florida Marlins. The Florida Marlins and the New York Yankees were the wild card teams. They both finished with the best second place records in their divisions. The Cleveland Indians would beat the Defending Champions New York Yankees in the divisional play-off round 3-2. Baltimore would beat seattle in their divisional play-off game 3-0.

In the National play-offs; The Atlanta Braves would beat the Houston Astros in their divisional play-off series 3-0. The Florida Marlins would sweep the San Fransico Giants 3-0. Now the Leagues Championship Series is set. Cleveland Indians against the Baltimore Oriolers. The Atlanta Braves against the Florida Marlins. Both Baltimore and Atlanta would heavily favorites to win the Leagues Championship Series. The Cleveland Indians would upset the Baltimore Oriolers 4-2 in the Series. The Florida Marlins would upset the Atlanta Braves 4-2 in the NLCS.

Now the Stage is set for the 1997 World Series. Florida is trying to become the first wild card team to win the World Series. Cleveland is heavily favorite to win the World Series. Florida Would Win the World Series in 7 games 4-3. Livan Hernadez was named World Series MVP. 6 of 7 games were decided by 3 runs or less. Florida won game 7 in 11 innings by the score of 3-2.

Florida would become the first team in baseball history to win the World Series as a wild card. There were alot of great moments that year. The fans were starting come back to the stadiums since the 1994 strike. 1998 season would be even better for baseball and the fans.

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